op/ed

• how we see it makes a big difference •

OPINION: Free Speech on College Campuses

Kylah Gore ----- 1 November 2017

Colleges and large universities often have the reputation and stigma of being predominantly liberal, so it's no surprise that silencing conservative voices is the new trend throughout campuses all over the United States. Universities are a place where they love to throw around the word “diversity”, but when they say this, they are referring to diversity of color, not diversity of thought. They want everyone to think, feel, and view the world the same. Free speech is something Americans take pride in; it is a basic human right that we are extremely blessed to have in our amazing country. Time and time again, we see free speech being deemed “hate speech” simply because some people don’t agree. It’s time that colleges across America begin to realize that diversity of thought is just as important as diversity of color. Silencing conservative speakers and banning them from addressing students on campus is a violation of everyone’s first amendment right, whether you agree or not. Talented, intelligent speakers such as Ben Shapiro, Nicholas Dirks, Anita Alvarez, John Brennan, Emily Wong, and many others, have been disinvited to speak on campuses across the country. Politics in this country are beginning to become dangerous, and people strongly disagree over a multitude of issues, but the last thing anyone should do is silence an opinion just because it doesn’t align with their own. It’s time we all remember the famous Voltaire quote: “I agree not with what you say but will defend to the death your right to say it.” Free speech is one of the things that makes this democracy so beautiful, and Americans should take great pride in the fact that everyone can express their opinions, whether they lean left or right.

OPINION: Not Black Enough

Sherell Williams ----- 26 October 2017

Not Black Enough By Sherell Williams Stereotypes are detrimental to the growth and acceptance of people of all kinds. It limits diversity in that people who feed into the stereotypes, think they should behave in that way. It is no secret that black people are stereotyped as loud, ghetto, ignorant, gang bangers, drug dealers, baby mommas and shooters whom all live in either the “hood” or “projects” (poor parts of town). What is so sad about this is that a lot of young black teens today act in the way the stereotype says they should. Some, unfortunately, are forced into it, for fear of being ridiculed. So they listen to rap, sag their pants, or wear revealing clothing. They have no respect for elders and constantly use the n-word. I, for instance, am one of those people who does not follow this type of behavior and people of all races judge me for that. In seventh grade, I was told by someone of the same race, that I acted ‘white.’ After that incident, I was called an oreo (a black person on the outside, white on the inside). Last year, by a distant family member, I was called continuously 'white' girl. After hearing comments like that, I tried not to let it get to me, but those remarks found their way into my subconscious. Unknowingly at times, if I were blasting Ed Sheeran or K-Pop, I would turn down my music when a black student my age would walk by me. I even tried to force myself at times to listen to rap, which I hardly do except when I am in the mood for it. I was also conscious of how I spoke around young people of my race to avoid being called a 'nerd.' So when I was around those people, I just remained silent. Even being smart is another tick against me and because of these reasons, I do not have a lot of friends that are the same race as me. This uneasiness within myself lasted for some time, and it still does. But now, I realize that just because I do not act a certain way or listen to a certain kind of music or have certain friends, does not make me any less of a black person. I am learning not to care what people like that think of me. Regardless of what they say, I was not put in the wrong body with the wrong color. A black person can be smart, listen to Ed Sheeran and K-Pop without being ‘white.’ We can talk intelligently without being ‘white.’ We can even have other kinds of friends, without being ‘white.’ It is so sad to think that we, as a black race, think so low of ourselves that we can’t see past the stereotypes and see what we could be. The damage with this stereotype does not, unfortunately, end with black people. Persons of other races now act like the stereotypical black person. Every day, here in Mexico High School, I see white girls imitating how a stereotypical black female would act. They wear big loops and are very disrespectful. As a black female who does not act this way, it is highly offensive to see them mimic something so false about the population of black females in the world. Now that they think they are qualified as a black person when they look at someone like me, who does not act in the way they imitate, they judge me as ‘white.’ How dare they say or think such a thing! I asked someone recently about a well-known song, and they told me that they did not listen to ‘white’ music. I was appalled that such ignorance would come out of not only a black person’s mouth but from someone of another race. I can’t help but think that we are part of the other races’ ignorance concerning us. If we do not possess knowledge of us first and judge each other based on a stereotype, then why should we expect others to know when they are crossing a line? What is even crazier is that when black teens are stereotyped, they become mad about it. How can they be mad when that is how they act? To those who have seen this or experience this, I am going to ask that the African-American readers, mixed or full, do what I am about to do. I am going to be myself fearlessly and without limits. I do not have to change to match the ignorance of those who believe a stereotype. So I will blast my Ed Sheeran and K-Pop; I will speak the way I do and hang out with who I want. If that’s not ‘black’ enough for some, then that is on them. Hopefully, I can be an inspiration for those who fear being called ‘white.’ Maybe I can show those trapped in the web of ignorance that we are not the stereotypes. Just because we were taught this and treated as if we are less, it does not mean we should act or think like we are less. Until then, those who choose to embody the very stereotypes they label as racism can succumb to the constraints placed on them. I choose to be me, and I am a black girl.​

OPINION: Taking a Knee - A Veteran's Point of View

Emma Evans ----- 18 October 2017

English teacher Mr. Dalton was asked about his opinions on football players kneeling during the national anthem, and he is very saddened with how the players are going about this. This all began when Colin Kaepernick started kneeling because of police brutality against African Americans. It started out as a simple protest and turned into something much bigger. Dalton believes that “they have a right to protest peacefully but doing so during the national anthem is disrespecting the church”. “Everybody has that right to protest. No matter what it is, we do not have the right to not be offended, but the protest during the National Anthem I think is incredibly poor taste even though the veterans that have served gave the protesters the right to do that. And I find it incredibly offensive.” Dalton was also asked if the President Donald Trump handled this in an appropriate manner, and he was confused why the President even got involved and that it was none of his business, “he needs to keep his mouth shut and stay off of Twitter.” Trump has tweeted many rude things regarding the football players decision to kneel, saying it disrespected our flag and our country. In today's society he believes that we aren't careful and we might start falling back into our old ways. We need to learn how to deal with these situations in a better manner but Dalton had a solution to it. “Is there any solution to the National Football guys? Oh yeah. Again these are entertainers. And those of us who are offended by it we can do what I am about to choose to do and I almost did it the other night during my beloved Cowboys game is just I’m not even going to watch when the National Anthem is played.” The NFL has began to take a stand, and sophomore Gyree Durante who plays for Albright College in Pennsylvania was cut from his team for kneeling two weekends in a row. ​

OPINION: Take a Knee or Completely Disagree? - The NFL Stand-Off

Seamus Levin ----- 6 October 2017

There is a growing trend in the National Football League (NFL) that started two years ago. This trend has become a very controversial topic in the nation today. It all started when Colin Kaepernick, a quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers decided to take a knee during the national anthem in a preseason game of the 2016 season. In later press conferences he said that he kneeled to protest the oppression of people in our country. While this protest was originally met with absorbent amounts of hate, many athletes have joined in the protest, making it as controversial a topic as any today. This protest has polarized the nation and even gotten remarks from President Trump’s twitter. In one of his tweets Trump said “The NFL has all sorts of rules and regulations. The only way out for them is to set a rule that you can't kneel during our National Anthem!” While many Americans are supporting the protest, many other Americans, like the president, are saying that the protest is disrespectful to our veterans. Joshua Brisco, the host of Almost Entirely Sports, has clearly laid out the problem with this topic. Brisco stated that the problem is that “we will not put ourselves in other people’s shoes … and if we stopped and listened to what is actually going on, we could talk about it and start that discussion.” The problem here is that we as people are not willing to gain perspective into other people’s problems and will not be quiet long enough to understand where the other side is coming from.